Pre-evolutions: from Pichu to Munchlax

Some Pokémon arrived after their “relatives”: these are the pre-evolutions, smaller forms that evolve into Pokémon you already know. In the crossword they are a gold mine, because the clue often says exactly who they evolve from or into. Here are the ones to recognise at a glance, from Pichu to Munchlax.

Why they matter in the clues

PokèVerba clues often talk about the evolution line: “it is a basic form”, “evolves into Pikachu”, “it does not evolve”. A pre-evolution is always a basic form, and the relative named in the clue is the key to finding it. If you know which names exist, the answer feels familiar straight away instead of being a hole in the grid.

For the general rules on evolutions there is the evolutions guide: here we concentrate on the names.

The pre-evolutions from Johto

The biggest group comes from the second generation, and almost every name is tied to a Kanto Pokémon:

Pichu (5 letters): evolves into Pikachu;
Cleffa (6): evolves into Clefairy;
Igglybuff (9): evolves into Jigglypuff;
Togepi (6): evolves into Togetic;
Tyrogue (7): evolves into one of Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan and Hitmontop;
Smoochum (8): evolves into Jynx;
Elekid (6): evolves into Electabuzz;
Magby (5): evolves into Magmar.

Tyrogue is the most interesting case for the crossword: the clue may tell you “it has three different evolutions”, and the seven letters do the rest.

The pre-evolutions from Hoenn

The third generation adds two:

Azurill (7): evolves into Marill;
Wynaut (6): evolves into Wobbuffet.

The pre-evolutions from Sinnoh

With the fourth generation the list grows again:

Budew (5): evolves into Roselia;
Chingling (9): evolves into Chimecho;
Bonsly (6): evolves into Sudowoodo;
Happiny (7): evolves into Chansey;
Munchlax (8): evolves into Snorlax;
Mantyke (7): evolves into Mantine.

Spotting them in the grid

Three habits that work:

Start from the relative. If the clue says “evolves into Snorlax”, the answer is a basic form with a shorter or different name, and the list above has it.
Count the letters. Five letters with “basic form” suggest Pichu, Magby or Budew; nine letters, Igglybuff or Chingling.
Look at the generation. “From Johto”, “from Hoenn” or “from Sinnoh” narrow the group at once. To see which region each generation belongs to, there is the guide to the regions, from Kanto to Paldea.

An example in the grid

Take the clue “Pokémon from Johto that is a basic form and evolves into Electabuzz”, six squares. The relative tells you almost everything: you need whoever comes before Electabuzz, and from the list you know it is Elekid. Check the letters: E-l-e-k-i-d is six, so it fits.

Now the opposite case: “it is a basic form and has three different evolutions”, seven squares. There is no relative here, but “three evolutions” and seven letters lead straight to Tyrogue. Clues about pre-evolutions work like this: either they give you the relative, or they give you a number that points to a single name.

When you get stuck, run through the three lists by region in your head. There are few entries and you’ll learn them quickly. After a few games you’ll notice that the names of basic forms come up often, and that recognising them is a real advantage: one more sure answer gives you letters for the crossings and saves tokens on helpers.

A trick for remembering them

The names almost always echo the relative: Pichu recalls Pikachu, Munchlax recalls Snorlax for its appetite, Smoochum brings Jynx to mind. When you meet a strange name in the grid, ask yourself who it might come from. Training this habit is the quickest way to recognise them all.

Put your memory to the test right away with today’s crossword.